Tag: 230427

Draft winds are blowing

The Big Story – NFL Draft: While knowing Coach B won’t follow the script by trading up, down and around the board, the Pats are now scheduled to step to the podium around 9:35 p.m. tonight (Thursday) to make the 14th selection in the NFL draft. It’s an important draft for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2018. Whether they do it with savvy picks or draft capital in trades doesn’t matter; they just badly need to come away with a ready-on-Day 1 left tackle and a game-breaking wide receiver. Anything else is gravy.

As for the rest of the draft, it mostly centers around QBs likely being taken with the first two and maybe third picks if Arizona trades out of the spot, along with what could happen with agitated veteran QBs like Aaron Rodgers and Lamar Jackson.

Sports 101: Name the future Hall of Fame offensive tackle once taken third overall who also was a pitcher for USC when their baseball team won the national championship in 1978.

5 Questions Going Into The Draft:

(1) With the Jackson situation in flux at best, what will the Ravens do this weekend?

(2) With whispers growing that his hometown 49ers want in on the Aaron Rodgers sweepstakes, are the Jets going to screw it up like they always do to be left at the altar for refusing to give up a first-round pick when they’re ready to win if they get a good QB?

(3) After being stripped bare with salary cap-forced cuts and having no high draft picks to get there, were the L.A. Rams just a one-and-done champion?

(4) Two years after handing L.A. their QB to win that SB, is Detroit in a better position going forward thanks to all those picks they got from L.A., which include the totally unexpected sixth overall pick they get this year from them that seemed like a high 20s pick at the time?

(5) With rumors swirling about Mac’s future in Foxborough, is he Coach B’s guy going forward or not?

Random Thoughts:

The Patriots haven’t drafted a defensive player in Round 1 since tackle Malcolm Brown in 2016.

More Matt Patricia stuff. You rarely see a team give up on a guy so quickly when taken as high as Jeff Okudah was by Detroit. So quite a comedown for the first draft pick of the Patricia era when the Lions traded the former Ohio State star to Atlanta for a measly fifth-round pick just three years after Okudah was taken third overall in 2020.

In Case You Missed It: NFL followers went into comical overdrive with NFL Draft lingo humor when it leaked out that former President Donald Trump weighed in at 6’1” and 270 during his arraignment at the NYC courthouse. NFL Combine maven Dave Kluge tweeted, “If he runs a sub-4.5, he’d comp historically to Dwight Freeney and may have a chance to go in the first round of the NFL Draft.” Former agent and Packers capologist Andrew Brandt tweeted, “Some teams have now taken him off their Draft boards.” And @Nati_Sports said Trump was “too small to protect my franchise quarterback. Day 3 grade.”

A Little History – Best and Worst Draft Picks of Belichick Era:

Worst 5 First-Round Picks: Dominique Easley, 2012 (29), lasted two seasons for work ethic and attitude issues. N’Keal Harry, 2019 (32), perpetually hurt and couldn’t get open. Laurence Maroney, 2006 (21), most indecisive runner in history. Sony Michel, 2018 (30), nice 2018 playoff run was high point, downhill after that. Isaiah Wynn, 2018 (23), because of durability and declining play his last two years were more disappointment than bust.

Best 5 Non-First Round Picks: Tom Brady, 2000, R6 (199 overall), GOAT. Gronk, 2010 R2, after trading up and down to get the 42nd pick. Julian Edelman, 2009 R7 (232). Matt Light, 2001 R2 (48), solid for 10 years. James White, 2014 R4 (130), always reliable and immense vs. Atlanta in 2016 SB. Deion Branch, 2002 R2, SB MVP in 2004 and could have been in 2003.

Interesting Picks:

Stephen Gostkowski, 2006 R4 (110), notable for three reasons: Bill had to get it right because he had just let Adam V walk in free agency; he became the best pick in the sorry 2006 draft class; and he became the franchise’s all-time scorer.

Neither Kliff Kingsbury, 2003 R6, nor Kevin O’Connell, 2008 R3, did anything in New England, but both wound up as NFL head coaches.

2007— even though they only got one player, first-round pickBrandonMeriweather, you can argue this was one of Belichick’s best drafts as by using their second on Wes Welker and the third on Randy Moss it kickstarted the 16-0 season that immediately followed that draft.

Sports 101 Answer: The OT/pitcher for USC was 6’6” 280 Anthony Munoz, who, given his immense size, I’m betting wasn’t a junkbaĺler.

Final Thought: I don’t know about you but I’m getting a little sick of Coach B reportedly being ticked at Mac for seeking advice/help from outside the building during his 2022 struggles. Sorry, Bill, he’s not the one who put incompetents in charge of the offense and the development of a highly drafted second-year QB — you did. And if you want a glimpse of how incompetent Matt Patricia and Joe Judge have been in those roles, take a look at how much the play of Jared Goff and Daniel Jones immediately improved after they were fired by the Lions and G-Men respectively.

Your fault, Bill, not that of the kid in need of real help because he wasn’t getting any and that’s what you’re supposed to do and didn’t.

Email Dave Long at dlong@hippopress.com.

Local color

A Manchester artist talks about her coloring book

Jyl Dittbenner, the Manchester artist behind the coloring book The Colors of Manchester, talked about her creative process and the inspiration behind her illustrations of the city’s landmarks, businesses and residents. Sold out since its first release a few years ago, the book was recently reprinted, with limited copies available now at the Millyard Museum’s gift shop and the Bookery in Manchester.

How did the idea for a Manchester coloring book come about?

I draw every day, often at various cafes and restaurants, and sometimes people will see me and talk to me. Liz Hitchcock [principal at Orbit Group, a Manchester-based investment firm that supports community development initiatives] saw me drawing a few times and said, ‘You know, I’d really like to see a coloring book of Manchester. Is that something that you would want to collaborate on?’ So I worked with her and some people from the Orbit Group to take a bunch of drawings and move in a direction. I didn’t have any words in mind, so the creative director came up with a few sentences that are in the book, and we agreed on them together.

What locations or landmarks are featured, and how did you choose them?

I looked through my sketchbooks and talked with Liz and her creative department and also people in my life to determine what locations people would be interested in coloring. … There’s Baer Square in Arms Park. There’s Cat Alley. We love cats, so there are actually a lot of cats on random pages. … There’s the Palace Theatre, from the inside and outside. There are some pieces of cafe life. There’s the river and the Millyard in the background on a lot of the pages.

From an artistic standpoint, what do you find intriguing about the architecture, landmarks and scenery of Manchester?

We have a lot of older buildings and architecture, which look very different from the things around them … I also love drawing people; buildings are interesting to draw because they each have their own character, and it’s the same with drawing people. It’s just fun to see what makes us unique.

How does the process of creating a coloring book differ from creating regular art?

Most of my drawings are very sketchy. I don’t like using pencil because I drag my hand across the page, but I do all my drawings in pen. For this coloring book, I would take a sketch drawing and bring it into Procreate on the iPad, then trace over the lines that I wanted to keep, clarify the lines that I thought weren’t quite right and add more detail if I felt like [it was necessary] to create the suggestion of certain shapes and patterns for people to color.

Who would enjoy this book?

It’s for all ages, and kids can enjoy it, but it’s geared more toward adults, because it’s more about reminiscing about the places in Manchester that we frequently see. … For me, drawing and making murals in the city is something I enjoy doing; it’s relaxing and calming. I think coloring is a similar activity for other people, and it’s a less intimidating activity for people who think, ‘I can’t draw,’ or ‘I can’t make art.’ It’s an entry point [to art] for them; they can color something and feel confident in their choices of colors and how it looks.

Featured photo: Courtesy photo.

News & Notes 23/04/27

Director departs

The New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services has announced the planned departure of Director of the Division for Children, Youth and Families Joe Ribsam on June 1 after five years of service. According to a press release, Ribsam has accepted the position of Director of Child Welfare and Juvenile Justice Policy at the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a nationally recognized foundation focused on the well-being of children and youth. Under Ribsam’s leadership, DCYF and the broader child welfare system have implemented several child welfare system improvements, including a children’s system of care for behavioral health; Kinship Navigator programs to support extended family and caregivers of children; a new juvenile justice assessment process that has prevented many youth from having to enter the formal justice system; community-based voluntary services that provide support to at-risk families; peer support for parents; expanded support from foster care health professionals and specialists; new evidence-based programs to increase children’s safety; the HOPE program, a voluntary foster care program that allows foster families to provide continuing support to youth ages 18 through 21 for voluntary foster care, and partnerships with housing authorities to prevent children from having to enter foster care due to a family’s housing instability. Over the past few years there has been a 25 percent decrease in the number of children placed in out-of-home care, and New Hampshire currently has the lowest combined rate of youth detention and commitment in the country. DHHS Interim Commissioner Lori Weaver will work to ensure continued support for the child welfare transformation efforts developed during Ribsam’s tenure.

Caregiver honored

Easterseals NH, VT and Farnum, Easterseals NH’s substance abuse treatment program, will honor Roberta Coutu with the Eliot Priest Founder’s Award at Farnum’s 10th Annual Spirit of Hope Event on Tuesday, May 2, at 6 p.m. at The Factory on Willow (252 Willow St., Manchester). According to a press release, Coutu, an eight-year employee of Farnum, supports individuals with substance use disorders on and off the job and helps them enter sober living. “Roberta’s commitment to Farnum and the people we serve is boundless,” Annette Escalante, Senior Vice President for Substance Use Treatment at Easterseals NH, VT and Farnum, said in the release. “She makes everyone who comes through our doors feel safe and at ease at a difficult time in their lives. We are all inspired by her connection with our clients and their families.” The public is welcome to attend the event, and tickets are available at easterseals.com/nh/get-involved/events.

Bike month

New Hampshire celebrates National Bike Month in May with a variety of events throughout the state to celebrate bikes and the people who ride them. According to a press release, this year’s schedule includes National Bike and Roll to School Day on May 3; the Chester Police Department Bike Rodeo on May 6; National Ride a Bike Day on May 7; National Bike to Work Week from May 15 through May 21; The Tour De Francestown 25/50 mile gravel rides on May 20; the New Boston Rail Trail 6-Mile Bike Event on May 21 and more. Visit bwanh.org/calendar to see the full schedule of events.

Energy week

New Hampshire Energy Week — a five-day series of events highlighting prominent energy topics and issues and bringing together leading experts to discuss energy solutions and share their knowledge — will take place Monday, May 1, through Friday, May 5. According to a newsletter, this year’s schedule includes a virtual kickoff event on Monday at 10 a.m., featuring the City of Nashua’s Energy Manager and environmental TikTok influencer Doria Brown and others live via YouTube; followed by a virtual “Investing in Resilience” panel on Tuesday at 11 a.m.; energy trivia and an electric vehicle showcase on Wednesday at 6 p.m. at Smuttynose Brewery in Hampton; and a virtual energy career and resource fair on Thursday at 11 a.m.; concluding with an event at the Bank of NH Stage in Concord on Friday at 1 p.m., featuring a number of speakers discussing “Powering New Hampshire’s Energy Future.” Visit nhenergyfuture.org/nhew for details and to register for events.

Old Man

A virtual remembrance event marking 20 years since the collapse of New Hampshire’s iconic rock face known as Old Man of the Mountain will be held on Wednesday, May 3, at 11 a.m., at OldManNH.org. According to a press release, the event will feature storytelling and an opportunity for attendees to share their stories and memories of the Old Man. “People from around the world still have an emotional attachment to the Old Man,” Brian Fowler, President of The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund board, said in the release. “We want to collect and share these stories during this special year, so we’re inviting folks to share their stories with us to highlight just how fondly we all remember the Old Man.” The Old Man of the Mountain Legacy Fund board has also organized The Old Man of the Mountain Scavenger Hunt Challenge, which will kick off the same day and continue through the summer in Franconia Notch State Park, concluding with a family fun day at the Old Man Plaza on Aug. 3.

One lane of the bridge that carries Route 111A in Fremont over the Exeter River will be closed for several weeks for maintenance work, according to a press release from the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Traffic will be restricted to a single lane, with alternating travel controlled by a temporary signalized system. Real-time traffic news can be found at newengland511.org, and travelers can sign up for “My511” alerts to stay informed about incidents and construction work.

New Hampshire Roller Derby returns to the JFK Memorial Coliseum in Manchester (303 Beech St.) with its season-opening doubleheader on Saturday, April 29, at 5 p.m. Tickets cost $12 at the door, and admission is free for kids age 12 and under and veterans, according to the website. More home bouts are scheduled for Saturdays, May 20, June 24 and Aug. 5. Visit nhrollerderby.com.

The Craftworkers’ Guild’s Spring Craft Shop opens on Thursday, May 4, at the historic Kendall House in Bedford (5 Meetinghouse Road). Browse handmade items by more than 50 juried artisans and craftspeople, including seasonal decor, photography, fine art and prints, cards, gourmet treats, woodworking, fiber and fabrics, sewn and knit specialties, stained and fused glass art, mixed media, jewelry, doll clothes and more. The shop will be open through Saturday, May 13, daily, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., according to the website. Visit thecraftworkersguild.org.

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